title: Historic Plaque, Rabbi Henry Cohen (1863-1952)
creator: Belden, Dreanna L.
date: 2005-10-29
language: English
description: Photograph of a historic plaque in Galveston, Texas. It reads:
"Rabbi Henry Cohen (1863-1952). Called the "First Citizen of Texas" by U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson, Rabbi Henry Cohen, an internationally known
humanitarian, was born in London, England. He came to Galveston in 1888 as
spiritual leader of Congregation B'Nai Israel and served for 64 years until
his death. In 1889 he married Mollie Levy (1862-1951) and they had two
children. After the disastrous storm of 1900, Texas Governor Joseph D. Sayers
appointed Rabbi Cohen to head the Central Relief Committee. From 1907 until
World War I he helped shiploads of immigrants become settled in cities around
the country. During World War I he was instrumental in influencing congress to
provide Jewish Naval Chaplains. Appointed to the Texas Prison Board by
Governor Dan Moody, Rabbi Cohen introduced measures for more humane treatment
of prisoners. He assisted New York slum residents in Galveston today. When
Rabbi Cohen died, the Commissioners Court of Galveston County called him one
of the country's greatest humanitarians and spiritual leaders. (1980)"
subject: Architecture - Monuments
subject: Architecture - Landmarks - Historic Markers
subject: Places - United States - Texas - Galveston County - Galveston
subject: Religion - Denominations - Jewish
subject: Cohen, Henry
subject: Government and Law - Elected Officials - Governors
subject: Immigration
coverage: United States - Texas - Galveston County - Galveston
coverage: Into Modern Times, 1939-Present
coverage: 2005-10-29
coverage: north=29.304769509943355; east=-94.79029099439697;
type: Photograph
format: 1 photograph : col.
format: Image
identifier: local-cont-no: dscn1669
identifier: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6596/
identifier: ark: ark:/67531/metapth6596